HSDC Student Launches Inspirational Campaign for Youth Parliament

HSDC is proud to announce that Maya Choudhury, a first year A Level student at Havant Campus, has officially launched her campaign to be elected to the UK Youth Parliament (YP).  

The Youth Parliament was formed in 2000 as a method to amplify the voices of young people nationwide. Maya, who went to the Portsmouth Grammar School before joining HSDC last September, is deeply passionate about ensuring that young people from all backgrounds are properly represented and empowered to influence the decisions that shape their lives. 

Maya is currently undertaking A Levels in Politics, English Literature and Sociology, subjects that not only reflect her academic interests but also her deep commitment to understanding society and making positive changes in the world.  

Alongside these studies, Maya is already a powerful advocate for youth voices in the region. She currently serves as an NHS Youth Ambassador and has been Chairperson of the Portsmouth Youth Cabinet since April 2025. These roles have enabled her to develop her leadership, public speaking and event-planning skills – from chairing Cabinet meetings to speaking at the Mayor Making Ceremony, Maya has embraced opportunities to represent the needs and ambitions of Portsmouth’s youth. 

Central to Maya’s journey is the supportive and aspirational culture at HSDC, which has helped to make so many students like her feel valued, inspired and creative. Speaking about her time at Havant so far, Maya says:  “My time at Havant has been fantastic so far! Even when I’m not in class, the campus has such a healthy and welcoming working environment, and the genuine support from teachers makes a real difference too. You can tell just from meeting them that they want you to do as well as you can, and that’s reflected in their teaching.” 

HSDC is committed to creating spaces where students can explore their interests far beyond the classroom. Whether that’s through open class discussions, enrichment opportunities or volunteering roles, students at HSDC are always encouraged to become confident, informed citizens, and Maya’s story exemplifies this ethos in action. 

Maya’s campaign has been built around the slogan ‘Letting Young People Shape the Blueprint of Their Future’, with her priorities being aimed at ensuring public services are built with young people in mind. This message is one that strongly reflects not only Maya’s personal beliefs but also the broader HSDC mission to equip young people with the knowledge, support and opportunities that they need to shape their futures with confidence.  

When asked how she feels about the value of young people learning more about politics and social issues, Maya said: “In general, I think that education on civic issues should be a core part of the national curriculum from a younger age, because these issues affect everyone. With votes at 16 coming into play, this is a fantastic opportunity to widen democracy, and a structured education on these issues will set young people up with skills and knowledge for life.” 

HSDC is extremely proud of Maya and everything she has already achieved both in and outside of college. Her Youth Parliament campaign is a powerful reflection of the supportive and empowering environment that has been carefully cultivated across all three HSDC campuses. We wish her the very best in the election, with voting taking place from 18-26 February 2026.